Why Glee Has Left Me Glum

I’ve been struggling with writing this blog for the past few weeks. But I’ve decided the subject is just too important to ignore.

For the past year, my daughter and I have become fans of the popular television show, “Glee.” It has gotten awards and accolades for its creativity and bold approach to life in high school. There were several reasons I had joined the Gleek throng. My daughter sings in Show Choir. I’m our high school choral board president. I love the music. And I have taught teens at church for more than 20 years. Shows that depict life in high school are shows teens talk about. I’m the kind of youth worker who wants in on the discussion.

So, let’s start a discussion. Glee has left me glum. While I’ve been uncomfortable with a few of its themes, this season seems to be over-the-top when it comes to pushing the boundaries of decency and morality on prime time television.

A few weeks ago I was really intrigued with the story line that caused the characters to struggle and wrestle with faith. Sure, Finn was praying to a grilled “cheezus”. But in the end I think he began to realize that God is not a genie in the bottle. (in fact, a lot of Christians I know dangerously think God answers prayer like that.) I also thought Mercede’s approach to the atheistic views of Curt was on target. Instead of attacking his anti-God comments and protests for prayer, she confronted a friend through an existing relationship of trust. If only we began our evangelism efforts based on relationships. (when was the last time you built a relationship with someone who didn’t believe in God?)

So where has Glee gone wrong? The Britney Spears episode left critics in awe. They praised the show for its creativity and production. But have we quickly forgotten the path of Britney? Are we still promoting the objectualization of women? As a mom and a youth worker, I’m sickened by the fact that we still promote women as sexual objects. I found this episode, at best, distasteful.

Then the clincher for me–a lesbian scene showing two of the characters (let me remind you–high school characters) kissing in bed and discussing lesbian sexual positions. My 16-year-old and I were speechless. Was this really on a major network at 7 p.m.? How many young children were watching? How many high school students were watching? Courtney and I made a decision at that point we could no longer be fans. A line had been drawn. The television went off.

In recent days the buzz has surrounded the photo on the cover of GQ magazine. Two of the female actresses (Lea Michelle and Dianna Agron) have posed with Finn’s character (played by Cory Monteith) in a near pornographic photo shoot for the popular men’s magazine. What kind of message does this send to our daughters? What kind of message does this send to our sons? Or our husbands for that matter?

I know my blog is about women’s missions and ministries. My voice is to encourage women to embrace and echo God’s heart for the world. But right now I think God’s heart is breaking. I think He is saddened by our complacency and disregard for His holiness. Today let’s make a commitment to echo God’s heart by being women who uphold God’s word. Let’s echo His heart by living lives of purity and modesty. Let’s echo His heart by discerning what our minds absorb, what our ears hear and what our eyes see.

Sorry “Glee.” I’ve left the club.

2 Timothy 3:6-7, “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.”